Difficult lying guest

[Glen-N-Penny0]

I have a guest staying and she has already 1. broken a side table 2. damaged a door 3. broken a glass 4. left the hot water on in the shower for ages without anyone there 5. brought my dogs upstairs when we definitely tell people not to do that (we have a doggy gate at the stairs). She seemed upset at the time for these things, although she was trying to hide the glass incident.

When it came time for airbnb to ask her for recompense, she said she wasn't going to pay and that her kids did it! (There are no kids here). Besides all that, she is overly talkative and does not respect our space/time (we work from home). 

The bad news is she is here for 3 weeks!!  agghhh!

To the recompense... airbnb were amazing and have reimbursed us (this is why you should never fly solo and go through airbnb). Under the agreement I cannot cancel her booking so have to live with it. We are being polite and kind but its so hard. 

We have had fabulous guests up til now. Some a little strange, but respectful. I guess I hate the lying and the not owning up to stuff. We recently had a guest who damaged something and within minutes they were on Amazon getting us a new item which they overnighted. Accidents happen.. I get that, but own up to them!

I have to say now I feel slightly anxious about my stuff/home with her. I also feel for other guests coming in as I have no idea whats going to happen. I fear she is a liability not only to my reviews but also health & safety for the other guests. 

I also hate being unkind, but I need to review this person honestly when she leaves so other hosts know about it. How do I do that kindly?

Any suggestions ?!!

[Ava30]

Hi @Glen-N-Penny0, you are in an unenviable position. None of us care to leave negative reviews. However, as you have determined, it is occasionally necessary. So far it could read something like:

XXX was our guest for 3 weeks. Unfortunately we cannot recommend. XXX broke House Rules, damaged furnishings and left the hot water running for an overly extensive period. 

You get the idea. Short, unemotional and strictly factual. Do NOT mention anything about getting reimbursed by AirBnB or that could be grounds for removal of the review. You may want to wait until the 14th day at the last minute unless she posts one before that.  You will most likely alter/add the review facts at the end of the stay,  however long that may be.  You can even get help from other hosts here in this forum after this stay when more facts are available. Good luck! It sounds like you may need it! 

[Susie111]

@Glen-N-Penny0

My favorite is "I wish this couple well for the future but would decline the offer to host them again"!

Originally from Robin, I like it it's short and diplomatic and every host gets it.

[Ben551]

Great advice @Ava30 - yeah @Glen-N-Penny0 you need to give a factual review that warns other hosts to a sufficient degree.  Short is best, like Ava suggests, because your review isn't just a warning to other hosts, it's an advertisement to other guests in terms of how professionally you handle a problem.

I wish you well for the remaining time... and extra patience!

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Glen-N-Penny0

you wrote: Under the agreement, I cannot cancel her booking 

Really? So whatever long term guests do to you and your home you have to live with it ?????

OMG....another reason to have 2 weeks max stay 😞

At least ABB refunded you for damage... this time... I wonder if they will be same generous if she breakes more stuff

[Ben551]

@Branka-and-Silvia0  scary right!!  locked in with a guest for days on end, after you've stuck them with a bill for damages... stuff of nightmares.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Ben551

well.. you can look at it from the bright side - if the guest continue to break things then it's a chance for you to change all the furniture at Airbnb expense 😄

[Ben551]

Hahahaha @Branka-and-Silvia0 ! I love it !

[Glen-N-Penny0]

Yup. Its true. I reduced mine back down to 2 weeks!!